CACC SME Initiative Launched at Cocktail Reception

The CACC launched its small and medium enterprise (SME) initiative at the Consulate General of Canada last week, at the reception to welcome the consulate’s new Consul General to Sydney.

The SME program is aimed at growth-focused entrepreneurs who see opportunities for their businesses in both Australia and Canada.

Chamber President Brian Hansen thanked Ross Campbell, Chair of the SME committee, who had spearheaded the development of the SME program over the past 18 months, and Marc-AndréHawkes, Senior Trade Commissioner and his staff at the consulate, for assisting with the program and moving it ahead.

SME committee member Michael Bacina spoke on behalf of Mr Campbell, who was overseas, noting they had started accepting memberships to the program a few weeks ago.

The Committee is focused on providing networking opportunities for SME members through events and key topic roundtables. It will help members find solutions to the challenges they face in growing their business in a new country, explore different ways to facilitate dialogue amongst SME members, and find mentorship opportunities for members.

“The SME initiative will evolve its offering to best reflect the wishes of its members,” said Mr Hansen.

“CACC was not like its UK, French or Israeli counterparts who were much larger and better resourced,” he added.

“The Chamber survived largely thanks to the generosity of large Australian and Canadian corporates. To go further and expand its mandate; however, it needed to reach out to SMEs, a previously untapped market.”

Mr Bacina added it was key to expand the Chamber’s influence with the SME community in Australia who “are involved in Canada, who have a connection to Canada, or aspire to do business in Canada and he was honoured to be on that journey.”

Mr Hansen thanked all the sponsors for their support of the CACC, including new sponsor, Bank of Nova Scotia which was represented by Scott Jindrich and Jay Hipolito.